Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center 2023 Recap
2023 Year in Review 2023 was a huge year at the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center! With a record number of sea turtles treated, multiple turtles tagged for research, and remarkable rehabilitation stories, this is certainly a year we will not soon forget. We cared for 133 sea turtles in 2023, and successfully released 119 turtles! With 3 turtles still currently in rehab at the C.A.R.E. Center, our overall rehabilitation success rate for the year was 92%! Of those 119 released turtles, 75 were Loggerheads, 31 were
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park Officially Welcomes Resident Dolphins to New Habitat
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park, located on Okaloosa Island in Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida, is excited to announce that their resident Atlantic bottlenose dolphins are making themselves at home in the long-awaited Dolphin Oasis. Located on the north side of the park, Dolphin Oasis truly lives up to its name, boasting 2.2 acres of sandy dunes, palms, and the stunning emerald waters of the Florida Gulf Coast. After giving the dolphins time to acclimate to their new surroundings, Dolphin Oasis
Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center Releases Four Rehabilitated Sea Turtles
The Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center successfully released four more rehabilitated sea turtle patients on Friday, November 17th, 2023 in Perdido Key, Florida. After a record summer of turtle intakes, the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center has been relieved with the slowing down of the season. As the weather cools down, sea turtles swim towards deeper, cooler water, and their activity in the shore of the Emerald Coast lessens. This public release was presented by the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center staff and volunteers, and
Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center is Awarded Funding by the Sea Turtle Grants Program 2023
The Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center has been awarded a grant for $10,087.09 from the Florida Sea Turtle Grants Program. The C.A.R.E Center received the grant to help renovate a designated necropsy suite, as well as additional transport tubs to hold turtles for intake exams, release transport, dry docking after surgical procedures, and holding for necropsy. This grant will greatly increase the efficiency to conduct necropsies in a timely manner and increase the C.A.R.E. Center's knowledge and improve clinical
Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center Successfully Releases Three More Rehabilitated Sea Turtles
The Gulfarium's C.A.R.E. Center successfully released another three rehabilitated sea turtle patients on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at Henderson Beach State Park in Destin, Florida. So far this year the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center has taken in 91 sea turtles due to strandings, and has released 61 of them. Today, three sea turtles, two Loggerheads and one Kemps ridley, were returned to the Gulf of Mexico. Several dedicated C.A.R.E Center staff team members and their volunteers, as well as numerous beachgoers
Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center Successfully Releases Six Rehabilitated Sea Turtles
The Gulfarium's C.A.R.E. Center successfully released six rehabilitated sea turtle patients on Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at Inlet Beach in the Florida panhandle. The Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center has taken in 89 patients this year, and so far has released 58 of them. Today, six sea turtles, four Loggerheads, one Kemps ridley, and one Green were able to return to the Gulf of Mexico. This marks the third release at Inlet Beach in the last month. Several dedicated C.A.R.E Center staff team members and their
Gulfarium Press Announcement - Five Sea Turtles Return to the Gulf
The Gulfarium's C.A.R.E. Center successfully released five rehabilitated sea turtle patients on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at Inlet Beach in the Florida panhandle. Since turtle season began in May, the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center has been very busy with the intake of injured turtles, sometimes receiving three to four turtles per day. The staff at the C.A.R.E. Center are working very hard and around the clock to give these turtles the care they need for a successful release into their natural
Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center Successfully Releases Three Cold Stun Sea Turtles After Months of Treatment
The Gulfarium's C.A.R.E. Center successfully released three rehabilitated cold stun sea turtle patients on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at Cape San Blas, Florida. Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center received eight juvenile Kemps Ridley sea turtles back in December 2022 from Cape Cod Massachusetts after a massive cold stun event struck the area. On Wednesday, the C.A.R.E. team was able to release three of these turtles. Daisy weighed 5.5 lbs when she first arrived to the CARE Center and weighed 6.5lbs on the day of
Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center Successfully Releases Three Rehabilitated Sea Turtles
The Gulfarium's C.A.R.E. Center successfully released three rehabilitated sea turtles on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at Topsail Hill State Park, Florida. Grace, an adult female Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, weighs 70lbs. Grace was found entangled in a buoy line on July 23, 2022. Stranding coordinator Tabitha Siegfried paired up with Fort Walton Beach Parasailing to rescue Grace right offshore in front of the Four Points Resort on Okaloosa Island. Grace had been reportedly stuck to the buoy line for over 24
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park Hosts Local Foster Families for annual Breakfast with Santa
On Saturday, December 10, 2022, the Gulfarium hosted Breakfast with Santa for the third year in a row for Feed Fosters of Northwest Florida with the First City Church. This event provides foster children a unique opportunity to celebrate the holidays and honor their foster families. The event welcomed foster children and their families in the panhandle area throughout Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties. This year they had 682 kids and their families, totaling 1,037 guests with over 150
Holiday Membership Sale! 20% OFF
The perfect stocking stuffer for the whole family! Give the gift of adventure this holiday season. Purchase onsite or use online code JOYOUS at gulfarium.com. Offer is available November 25 - December 31, 2022. 50 % off admission for military families Saturdays & Sundays now- Feb 26, 2023
Gulfarium Press Announcement - Two Sea Turtles Return to the Gulf of Mexico
The Gulfarium's C.A.R.E. Center successfully released two rehabilitated sea turtles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at Topsail Hill State Park, Florida. Bindi, a sub-adult Kemp's ridley sea turtle, was hooked in the mouth at the Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier on 8/4/2022. The hook was removed upon intake at the CARE Center and Bindi remained under observation until she reached a healthy weight and presented with normal blood work. Arugula, a juvenile green sea turtle, arrived at the CARE Center on
Gulfarium Press Announcement - Cold Stunned New England Sea Turtle Successfully Released
The Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center in Northwest Florida has released the final cold-stunned Kemp’s ridley sea turtle from a group of 16 that they received on December 17th, 2021. On Thursday, August 25th, 2022, Turtle 473 was transported to Fort Clinch State Park, Florida, as determined by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), to be released into the Atlantic Ocean. The group of 16 sea turtles arrived at the C.A.R.E. Center after being stranded off the coast of New England during a mass
Four Rehabilitated Sea Turtles Successfully Released - July 2022
The Gulfarium's C.A.R.E. Center successfully released four rehabilitated sea turtles on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at Grayton Beach State Park, Florida. Each of the turtles have been outfitted with small acoustic tags as part of a partnership between the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) team. These trackers will allow researchers to observe the movements of the rehabilitated turtles after they have been released. Multiple receivers are located throughout the Gulf of
Summer Has Arrived at Destin Commons
Three sandcastles have been sculpted at Destin Commons as part of a summer-long viewing experience. The outdoor shopping center now has three elaborately sculpted sandcastles on display, each with its own theme and local partner. Playing on the beautiful beaches of Destin and all the area has to offer, Destin Commons hired Rick Mungeam, a sand sculpting professional of 12 years, to design and build sculptures representing Destin Commons, Destin-Fort Walton Beach’s Little Adventures program, and the
Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center Successfully Releases Four Rehabilitated Sea Turtles back into the Gulf of Mexico
The Gulfarium's C.A.R.E. Center successfully released four rehabilitated sea turtles on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at Inlet Beach, Fla. It was a beautiful morning as the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center released some of its recent patients. "It is always so rewarding when we release sea turtles back into the Gulf," states Patrick Berry, Director of the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center. "All species of sea turtle are endangered so we are passionate about doing everything we can to help these animals. I am proud of our
Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center Successfully Releases Five Rehabilitated Sea Turtles Back into the Gulf of Mexico
The Gulfarium's C.A.R.E. Center successfully released five rehabilitated sea turtles on Thursday, June 9, 2022, at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park off of West County Highway 30A. It was a warm, sunny morning as crowds gathered to watch the endangered turtles head back into the Gulf of Mexico. All of the rehabilitated sea turtles had fallen victim to fishing hook related injuries. One interesting and very large turtle venturing back into the Gulf of Mexico today was Mambo, an adult female loggerhead
Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center Successfully Releases Four Rehabilitated Sea Turtles - One Adorned with a Satellite Tag
The Gulfarium's C.A.R.E. Center successfully released four rehabilitated sea turtles on Thursday, May 12, 2022, at Inlet Beach, Florida. It was a beautiful morning as crowds gathered to watch the endangered turtles head back into the Gulf of Mexico. All of the rehabilitated sea turtles had fallen victim to fishing hook related injuries. One of the turtles was outfitted with a satellite tag for the release. Jamie, a large adult female loggerhead weighing 208lbs, had been outfitted with a satellite tag by the